Intermediaries have reportedly offered Barcelona the chance to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, who will likely join Serie A giants Juventus.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Barcelona will have the opportunity to sign Douglas Luiz. The Aston Villa midfielder is also a target for Arsenal. However, the 26-year-old will likely join Serie A giants Juventus from the West Midlands club in the summer transfer window.
Douglas Luiz and his ascent
Douglas Luiz has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League in the last half a decade. A forgotten player at Manchester City, the Brazilian international joined Aston Villa after completing a two-year loan stint at Girona. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength.
The 26-year-old is now a mainstay in the middle of the park for his club and country and enjoyed an exceptional 2023/24 campaign. Luiz contributed to 20 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions, finding the back of the net ten times while providing ten assists. Meanwhile, his progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting Arsenal and Juventus. Meanwhile, intermediaries have offered the player to Barcelona.
A man in demand
Barcelona can do with a player of Douglas Luiz’s qualities, considering they are scouring the market for a holding midfielder. Sergio Busquets has created a sizeable void from his departure last summer. So, several candidates have emerged on Barcelona’s radar, with the Aston Villa midfielder being a viable target.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s interest in Douglas Luiz is understandable. The North London club will likely part ways with Thomas Partey in the summer transfer window. So, the Aston Villa midfield mainstay is the ideal candidate to replace the Ghanaian international. However, Arsenal will lose the race to sign him, with Juventus set to secure his services.
Recent reports have revealed that a part-exchange deal for Luiz will soon see the light of day. Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior are heading the other way, with Aston Villa also recouping a small sum from Luiz’s departure. So, an adventure in Serie A is on the cards for the Brazilian international.
With the 26-year-old on the verge of joining Juventus, Arsenal must look elsewhere for a midfield reinforcement. As for Barcelona, it will be interesting to see who the Catalan club will sign to bolster the midfield unit in the summer transfer window.
